There is something profoundly strange happening in modern medicine.

As someone born and raised in Belgium, I grew up under skies painted with clouds. Rain, grey days, and muted sunlight were the norm. So, whenever the sun decided to make an appearance, I was the first to celebrate it—weekends, holidays, you name it. I’d bask in it, worship it. I loved the warm glow on my skin, the healthy “look” of a tan. It made me feel alive.

“Why We Die” Isn’t Just a Book—It’s a Wake-Up Call for Anyone Who Thinks Ageing Is “Natural”
And Why You Should Rethink Everything You Thought You Knew About Longevity

In The Burnout Society, philosopher Byung-Chul Han diagnoses our era as the “achievement-society,” where relentless positivity and self-exploitation become both the engine and the disease of modern life.

For most of modern medical history, microbes were viewed primarily as threats. Bacteria, viruses, and fungi were ‘problems’ physicians were trying to eliminate with disinfectants and antibiotics.

Hospitals save lives. But sometimes, staying inpatient when not required or for too long can put those very lives at risk.

“Pain is not in the body. It is in the brain — but it’s also in the mind, the memory, the culture, and the story we tell ourselves.”

Longevity. Few words capture the imagination—and market hype—quite like it.

The Business Case for Burnout

Empathy Is Not Soft. It Is Clinical Power.